Slide rail assembly for chassis system

ABSTRACT

A slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, a releasing member and a limiting member. The second rail is movable relative to the first rail. The releasing member is mounted on the second rail. The limiting member is arranged to be corresponding to the releasing member. The limiting member is configured to be in a free status and a limiting status. When the limiting member is in the free status, the releasing member is configured to be operatively moved from a first position to a second position. When the limiting member is in the limiting status, the releasing member is not able to be operatively moved from the first position to the second position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a slide rail assembly, and moreparticularly, to a slide rail assembly for a chassis system.

2. Description of the Prior Art

U.S. Pat. No. 6,685,033 B1 discloses a slide assembly for a chassissystem. The slide assembly (405) carries a plurality of chassiscomprising a device (505) and an air duct (520). When the slide assembly(405) is totally pulled out from a rack structure (615), as shown inFIG. 6, the slide assembly has to bear the weight of the device (505)and the air duct (520).

The above operation mode may not affect operation and maintenance for alighter chassis system. However, when the slide assembly is totallypulled out to carry a plurality of heavier chassis, the slide assemblyis at the risk of deformation, so as to cause safety issue duringoperation and maintenance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a slide rail assembly for a chassissystem, wherein the chassis system comprises a first chassis and asecond chassis detachably mounted on the first chassis. The chassissystem allows safer operation and maintenance through arrangement of theslide rail assembly.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a slide railassembly comprises a first rail comprising a blocking feature; a secondrail movable relative to the first rail along a longitudinal direction;a first releasing member mounted on the second rail, wherein the firstreleasing member is configured to abut against the blocking feature whenthe first releasing member is located at a first position, and the firstreleasing member does not abut against the blocking feature when thefirst releasing member is located at a second position; and a limitingmember arranged to be corresponding to the first releasing member,wherein the limiting member is configured to be in a free status or alimiting status; wherein when the limiting member is in the free status,the first releasing member is configured to be operatively moved fromthe first position to the second position; when the limiting member isin the limiting status, the first releasing member is not able to beoperatively moved from the first position to the second position.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a slide railassembly for a chassis system is provided. The chassis system comprisesa first chassis and a second chassis detachably mounted on the firstchassis. The slide rail assembly comprises a first rail comprising ablocking feature; a second rail movable relative to the first rail alonga longitudinal direction, the second rail mounted on the first chassis;a first releasing member mounted on the second rail; and a limitingmember arranged on the second rail and configured to abut against theblocking feature; and a limiting member mounted on the second rail andcorresponding to the first releasing member; wherein when the secondchassis is mounted on the first chassis, the limiting member is movedtoward the first rail by the second chassis, in order to further limitthe first releasing member, such that the first releasing member is notable to be pressed to move, in order to prevent the first releasingmember from disengaging from the blocking feature; wherein when thesecond chassis is detached from the first chassis, the first releasingmember is able to be pressed to move, in order to allow the firstreleasing member to be disengaged from the blocking feature.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a chassissystem comprises a first chassis, a second chassis and a slide railassembly. The first chassis has an inner space, and the first chassiscomprises a wall. An opening is formed on the wall and communicated withthe inner space. The second chassis is detachably mounted on the firstchassis. The slide rail assembly comprises a first rail comprising ablocking feature; a second rail movable relative to the first rail alonga longitudinal direction; a first releasing member mounted on the secondrail, wherein when the second rail is moved relative to the first railfrom a retracted position to a first extended position, the firstreleasing member is configured to abut against the blocking feature; alimiting member arranged to be corresponding to the first releasingmember, the limiting member having an elastic part passing through theopening of the first chassis to be located in the inner space of thefirst chassis; wherein a through hole is formed on the second rail andcorresponding to the first releasing member, when the second chassis ismounted in the inner space of the first chassis, the limiting member ismoved toward the first rail by the second chassis, in order to furtherlimit the first releasing member, such that the first releasing memberis not able to be pressed to move, in order to prevent the firstreleasing member from disengaging from the blocking feature; whereinwhen the second chassis is detached from the first chassis, the firstreleasing member is able to be pressed to move, in order to allow thefirst releasing member to be disengaged from the blocking feature of thefirst rail.

Preferably, when the second rail is moved relative to the first railfrom a retracted position to a first extended position, the firstreleasing member abuts against the blocking feature of the first rail atthe first position.

Preferably, the blocking feature is located adjacent to an end of thefirst rail.

Preferably, the first releasing member comprises a first end part, asecond end part and an operating part connected between the first endpart and the second end part, the operating part has a slot, the secondrail comprises a first part and a second part, a step is formed betweenthe first part and the second part, the first end part of the firstreleasing member is mounted to the first part of the second rail, thesecond end part of the first releasing member abuts against the secondpart of the second rail, the operating part of the first releasingmember is configured to be operatively moved according to the step, inorder to allow the first releasing member to be disengaged from theblocking feature of the first rail.

Preferably, a through hole is formed on the second and corresponding tothe first releasing member, the limiting member is mounted on the secondrail, the limiting member comprises an elastic part extended along atransverse direction, when a force is applied to the limiting member todrive the limiting member to abut against the first releasing member,the first releasing member is not able to be operatively moved from thefirst position to the second position.

Preferably, the slide rail assembly further comprises a second releasingmember mounted on the second rail, when the second rail is movedrelative to the first rail from the first extended position to a secondextended position, the second releasing member is configured to abutagainst the blocking feature of the first rail.

Preferably, the chassis system further comprises a housing configured toaccommodate the first chassis, wherein the slide rail assembly furthercomprises a fixed rail mounted on the housing, the first rail is movablerelative to the fixed rail.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt becomeobvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiment that isillustrated in the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a slide rail assembly according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of an area A of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the slide rail assembly in an extended stateaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the slide rail assembly at a retractedposition according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the slide rail assembly at a first extendedposition according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an operation of applying a first force to afirst releasing member of the slide rail assembly according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the slide rail assembly at a second extendedposition according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the limiting member driven by a second forcewhen the slide rail assembly is located at the first extended positionaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is s a diagram showing the slide rail assembly in the extendedstate in another angle according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the slide rail assembly applied to achassis system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of an area B of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing arrangement between the chassis system andthe slide rail assembly in a retracted state according to an embodimentof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 show a slide rail assembly 20 according to anembodiment of the present invention. The slide rail assembly 20comprises a first rail 22, a second rail 24 movable relative to thefirst rail 22 along a longitudinal direction, a first releasing member26 mounted on the second rail 24, and a limiting member 28 arranged tobe corresponding to the first releasing member 26. Preferably, the firstrail 22 comprises at least one blocking feature 30. In the presentembodiment, the first rail 22 comprises two blocking features 30. Theblocking feature 30 is located adjacent to an end of the first rail 22.

Preferably, the slide rail assembly 20 further comprises a fixed rail32. The first rail 22 is movable relative to the fixed rail 32.

Preferably, the slide rail assembly 20 further comprises a secondreleasing member 34 mounted on the second rail 24.

Preferably, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the first releasing member 26comprises a first end part 36 a, a second end part 36 b and an operatingpart 38 connected between the first end part 36 a and the second endpart 36 b. The operating part 38 has at least one slot 40. In thepresent embodiment, the operating part 38 has two slots 40. The secondrail 24 comprises a first part 42 a and a second part 42 b. A step G isformed between the first part 42 a and the second part 42 b. The firstend part 36 a of the first releasing member 26 is mounted to the firstpart 42 a of the second rail 24. The second end part 36 b of the firstreleasing member 26 abuts against the second part 42 b of the secondrail 24.

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, when the second rail 24 is moved from aretracted position P0 to a first extended position P1 relative to thefirst rail 22 along a direction D1, the blocking feature 30 of the firstrail 22 extends into the slot 40 of the operating part 38, such that thefirst releasing member 26 is able to abut against the blocking feature30 of the first rail 22, in order to prevent the second rail 24 frommoving further relative to the first rail 22 along the direction D1.

As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the first releasing member 26 isoperatively moved by a first force F1 from the first position L1 to thesecond position L2 according to the step G, such that the firstreleasing member 26 is disengaged from the blocking feature 30 of thefirst rail 22.

Preferably, the second releasing member 34 of the slide rail assembly 20is mounted between a third part 42 c and a fourth part 42 d of thesecond rail 24. Wherein, a step G is also formed between the third part42 c and the fourth part 42 d. When the second rail 24 is moved relativeto the first rail 22 from the first extended position P1 to a secondextended position P2, the second releasing member 34 is configured toabut against the blocking feature 30 of the first rail 22.

Preferably, as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, a through hole 44 is formedon the second rail 24 corresponding to the first releasing member 26.The limiting member 28 is arranged on the second rail 24. The limitingmember 28 comprises an elastic part 46 extended along a transversedirection. When a second force F2 is applied to the limiting member 28to drive the limiting member 28 to abut against the first releasingmember 26, the first releasing member 26 is not able to be operativelymoved from the first position L1 to the second position L2.

According to the above illustration, the limiting member 28 isconfigured to be in a free status S1 (as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5) ora limiting status S2 (as shown in FIG. 8); wherein, when the limitingmember 28 is in the free status S1, the first releasing member 26 isconfigured to be operatively moved from the first position L1 to thesecond position L2 (as shown in FIG. 6); when the limiting member 28 isin the limiting status S2, the first releasing member 26 is not able tobe operatively moved from the first position L1 to the second positionL2.

FIG. 10 to FIG. 12 show the slide rail assembly 20 applied to a chassissystem 48 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Thechassis system 48 comprises a first chassis 50 and a second chassis 52detachably mounted on the first chassis 50. The second rail 24 of theslide rail assembly 20 is mounted on the first chassis 50. Wherein, thelimiting member 28 is driven by the second chassis 52 to limit the firstreleasing member 26, such that the first releasing member 26 is not ableto be pressed to move, so as to be in the status shown in FIG. 8.Wherein, when the second chassis 52 is detached from the first chassis50, the first releasing member 26 is able to be operatively pressed tomove, so as to be in the status shown in FIG. 6.

Specifically, the first chassis 50 of the chassis system 48 has an innerspace 54, the first chassis 50 comprises a wall 56, and the wall 56 hasan opening 58 communicated with the inner space 54. The elastic part 46of the limiting member 28 passes through the opening 58 of the firstchassis 50 to be located in the inner space 54 of the first chassis 50.Wherein, when the second chassis 52 is arranged in the inner space 54 ofthe first chassis 50, the limiting member 28 is moved toward to thefirst releasing member 26 by the second chassis 52 (such as the statusshown in FIG. 8); when the second chassis 52 is detached from the firstchassis 50, the first releasing member 26 is able to be operativelymoved from the first position L1 to the second position L2 (such as thestatus shown in FIG. 6), in order to allow the first releasing member 26to be disengaged from the blocking feature 30 of the first rail 22 atthe second position L2.

Preferably, the chassis system 48 further comprises a housing 60configured to accommodate the first chassis 50. The fixed rail 32 of theslide rail assembly 20 is configured to mount on the housing 60. Thefirst rail 22 of the slide rail assembly 20 is movable relative to thefixed rail 32.

According to the above arrangement, the slide rail assembly 20 of thepresent invention is capable of allowing the first chassis 50 and thesecond chassis 52 to move relative to the housing 60 from the retractedposition P0 (as shown in FIG. 4) to the first extended position P1 (asshown in FIG. 5). When the first chassis 50 and the second chassis 52are at the first extended position P1, since the second chassis 52 islocated in the first chassis 50, the first chassis 50 and the secondchassis 52 cannot be further pulled out relative to the housing 60. Inother words, when the second chassis 52 is located in the first chassis50, the limiting member 28 is moved toward the first rail 22, so as tolimit the first releasing member 26, such that the first releasingmember 26 is not able to be pressed to move until the second chassis 52is detached from the first chassis 50 (as shown in FIG. 6). Therefore,the first chassis 50 can be further moved to the second extendedposition P2 (as shown in FIG. 7). Thereby, the present invention allowsmore convenient and safer maintenance and replacement for the chassis.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerousmodifications and alterations of the device and method may be made whileretaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the abovedisclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and boundsof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A chassis system, comprising: a first chassis; asecond chassis detachably mounted on the first chassis; and a slide railassembly, comprising: a first rail comprising a blocking feature; asecond rail movable relative to the first rail along a longitudinaldirection, the second rail mounted on the first chassis; a firstreleasing member mounted on the second rail and configured to abutagainst the blocking feature; and a limiting member mounted on thesecond rail and corresponding to the first releasing member; whereinwhen the second chassis is mounted on the first chassis, the limitingmember is moved toward the first rail by the second chassis, in order tofurther limit the first releasing member, such that the first releasingmember is not able to be pressed to move, in order to prevent the firstreleasing member from disengaging from the blocking feature; whereinwhen the second chassis is detached from the first chassis, the firstreleasing member is able to be pressed to move, in order to allow thefirst releasing member to be disengaged from the blocking feature. 2.The chassis system of claim 1, wherein when the second rail is movedrelative to the first rail from a retracted position to a first extendedposition, the first releasing member is configured to abut against theblocking feature.
 3. The chassis system of claim 1, wherein the blockingfeature is located adjacent to an end of the first rail.
 4. The chassissystem of claim 2, wherein the first releasing member comprises a firstend part, a second end part and an operating part connected between thefirst end part and the second end part, the operating part has a slot,the second rail comprises a first part and a second part, a step isformed between the first part and the second part, the first end part ofthe first releasing member is mounted to the first part of the secondrail, the second end part of the releasing member abuts against thesecond part of the second rail, the operating part of the firstreleasing member is configured to be operatively moved according to thestep, in order to allow the releasing member to be disengaged from theblocking feature of the first rail.
 5. The chassis system of claim 4,wherein a through hole is formed on the second rail and corresponding tothe first releasing member, the limiting member comprises an elasticpart extended along a transverse direction, the limiting member isconfigured to be driven by the second chassis to abut against the firstreleasing member, such that the first releasing member is not able to bepressed to move.
 6. The chassis system of claim 4, wherein the sliderail assembly further comprises a second releasing member mounted on thesecond rail, when the second rail is moved relative to the first railfrom the first extended position to a second extended position, thesecond releasing member is configured to abut against the blockingfeature of the first rail.
 7. A chassis system, comprising: a firstchassis having an inner space, the first chassis comprising a wall, anopening formed on the wall and communicated with the inner space; asecond chassis detachably mounted on the first chassis; a slide railassembly, comprising: a first rail comprising a blocking feature; asecond rail movable relative to the first rail along a longitudinaldirection; a first releasing member mounted on the second rail, whereinwhen the second rail is moved relative to the first rail from aretracted position to a first extended position, the first releasingmember is configured to abut against the blocking feature; a limitingmember arranged to be corresponding to the first releasing member, thelimiting member having an elastic part passing through the opening ofthe first chassis to be located in the inner space of the first chassis;wherein a through hole is formed on the second rail and corresponding tothe first releasing member, when the second chassis is mounted in theinner space of the first chassis, the limiting member is moved towardthe first rail by the second chassis, in order to further limit thefirst releasing member, such that the first releasing member is not ableto be pressed to move, in order to prevent the first releasing memberfrom disengaging from the blocking feature; wherein when the secondchassis is detached from the first chassis, the first releasing memberis able to be pressed to move, in order to allow the first releasingmember to be disengaged from the blocking feature of the first rail. 8.The chassis system of claim 7, wherein the blocking feature is locatedadjacent to an end of the first rail.
 9. The chassis system of claim 7,wherein the first releasing member comprises a first end part, a secondend part and an operating part connected between the first end part andthe second end part, the operating part has a slot, the second railcomprises a first part and a second part, a step is formed between thefirst part and the second part, the first end part of the releasingmember is mounted to the first part of the second rail, the second endpart of the releasing member abuts against the second part of the secondrail, the operating part of the releasing member is configured to beoperatively moved according to the step.
 10. The chassis system of claim9, further comprising a second releasing member mounted on the secondrail, when the second rail is moved relative to the first rail from thefirst extended position to a second extended position, the secondreleasing member is configured to abut against the blocking feature ofthe first rail.
 11. The chassis system of claim 7, further comprising ahousing configured to accommodate the first chassis, wherein the sliderail assembly further comprises a fixed rail mounted on the housing, thefirst rail is movable relative to the fixed rail.